[Video-Open]

[ANCHOR=Keith]
[NEWSCAST=6]
[WRITER=ejo]
[TAPE#=Video Open]
[GRAPHIC=News7at6]
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="I don't think there is..]
[RUNS=:03 ]
[OUT Q= ...in Northside High School]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
A Roanoke County student with a fondness for trenchcoats has a rough day.
And one day after Littleton, local students wonder if their schools are safe enough.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=Keith]

Good evening, I'm Keith Humphry.[Shooting-latest]

Authorities now say FIFTEEN people were killed in yesterday's attack at Columbine High School... revising DOWNward the estimate they made at this hour LAST night.
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[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Littleton, CO]

With flags at half staff all across Colorado, in memory of the victims of the so-called Trench Coat Mafia.... lawmen searched the school inside and out today... looking for more explosive devices and clues as to what happened.
Those dead include the two students responsible for the assault on their classmates.
(------------)

[Trenchcoat]

Some Roanoke County parents have complained to a high school principal -- their children are being mistreated simply because they wear trenchcoats.
All the concern over the "Trenchcoat Mafia" has prompted a lot of teasing among classmates, and one local student left school today because of it.
Tina Tenret has his story.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=16-year-old John Fidler]
[SUPER=03-Salem; :00]
[SUPER=01-John Fidler/Northside Student; :19]
[SUPER=01-Pat Janney/Mother; :55]
[SUPER=@Tina1; 1:14]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke Co.; 1:30]
[RUNS=2:01]
[OUT Q=Tina Tenret News7]
((
16-year-old John Fidler has worn black since the first grade.
Most days he sports a black T-shirt, black pants, black shoes, and yes -- a black trenchcoat.
One day after the Colorado school shootings, Fidler left his trenchcoat at home.
But that didn't stop the teasing.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:16:38]
[IN Q=WHEN WE WALKED]
((JOHN FIDLER/SALEM STUDENT: WHEN WE WALKED IN THE DOOR, TWO GUYS SAID LOOK IT'S THE TRENCHCOAT MAFIA IN DISGUISE. LOOK, WHERE'S YOUR TRENCHCOAT GUYS? DON'T YOU WANT TO BE IN THE MAFIA ANYMORE? STUFF LIKE THAT.))
[RUNS15]
[OUT Q=STUFF LIKE THAT]

Fidler says when the ribbing continued, he called his mother to pick him up -- to avoid a fight.
He says he wears the trenchcoat to emulate his favorite wrestler, Sting.
Inside Northside High School, he's not the only one.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:18:30]
[IN Q=Just because]
((FIDLER: JUST BECAUSE WE WEAR BLACK AND SKULL T-SHIRTS AND TRENCHCOATS WE'RE NOT OUT TO KILL ANYBODY. WE JUST LIKE THE COLOR BLACK.))
[RUNS09]
[OUT Q=COLOR BLACK]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 12:29:59]
[IN Q=Because of the trenchcoat]
((PAT JENNEY/MOTHER: BECAUSE OF THE TRENCHCOAT MAFIA STIGMA I THINK THERE ARE KIDS GOING TO SCHOOL TODAY WHO ARE ACTUALLY AFRAID OF THESE PEOPLE IN TRENCHCOATS.))
[RUNS09]
[OUT Q=TRENCHCOATS]

Fidler's mother bought the coat for her son.
She says he risked an unexcused absense for leaving school -- meaning he might not be able to make up the work.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:56:06]
[IN Q=The principal]
((TINA TENRET/NEWS7: THE PRINCIPAL OF NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL, ALLEN JOURNELL, SAYS HE DOES NOT WANT TO COMMENT ON THIS SPECIFIC INCIDENT UNTIL HE CAN TALK TO JOHN'S MOTHER. BUT HE SAYS IN GENERAL, GUIDANCE COUNSELORS HERE HAVE AN OPEN-DOOR POLICY AND HE'S ALWAYS TRIED TO PREVENT STUDENTS FROM TEASING ONE ANOTHER.))
[RUNS15]
[OUT Q=TEASING ONE ANOTHER]
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 13:32:53]
[IN Q=HOW DO YOU]
((ALLEN JOURNELL/PRINCIPAL: HOW DO YOU FEEL HERE AT NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL AS FAR AS YOUR SAFETY? DO YOU FEEL SAFE? YOU DO NOT?))
[RUNS07]
[OUT Q=YOU DO NOT]

Seniors told Journell they need more security measures in school, like 2-way intercoms and locked back doors.
And even though they want school leaders to track students with psychological problems, these seniors were quick to say that not everyone who wears a trenchcoat is trouble.
Still -- John Fidler says he'll tuck his away for a while.
Tina Tenret News7))

[School-Secur]

The Littleton shootings are bringing school security to the forefront in districts across the country, including this area.
Marya Jones has that part of the story.
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[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=01-]
[SUPER=01-Littleton, CO]
[SUPER=01-]
[RUNS=:00]
[OUT Q=Marya Jones, News 7, Roanoke]
[students arriving at Patrick Henry]
As students and staff arrived at Patrick Henry High School this morning, they brought with them concerns that school shootings could happen anywhere.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 7:17:00]
[IN Q=It's very scary...]
[SUPER=01-Ingrid Bittel/Patrick Henry student]
[SUPER=01-Doris Ennis/Patrick Henry principal]
[OUT Q=...in such a manner.]
[RUNS=:22]
((Ingrid Bittel/Patrick Henry student: It's very scary. I feel that it can happen in any group, any clique, any situation...))
[SOT 21:36:00]
((Doris Ennis/Patrick Henry principal: I started thinking about doing a lot of soul-searching, seeing if the administration here at Patrick Henry, if we were covering our bases...monitoring the signs, the symptoms that cause young people to behave in such a manner.))
[OTS shots from interview]
In Roanoke County, Superintendent Deanna Gordon says she's been working to strengthen school security over the past five years. But she won't be making any immediate changes on the heels of the Littleton shootings.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 22:57:00]
[IN Q=We'll be asking ourselves...]
[SUPER=01-Deanna Gordon/Roanoke Co. Superintendent]
[OUT Q=...knee-jerk reaction.]
[RUNS=:17]
((Deanna Gordon/Roanoke Co. Superintendent: We'll be asking ourselves questions, trying to be alert particularly to any kind of copycat, but ultimately, we've always tried to be proactive rather than reactive and we wouldn't want to make a knee-jerk reaction.))
[Patrick Henry students]
And students themselves will be a big part of preserving school safety. Area schools are increasingly using crisis lines and other peer tips to identify problem situations.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 5:04:00]
[IN Q=There are signs]
[SUPER=01-Katie Rude/Patrick Henry Student]
[RUNS=:08]
[OUT Q=on their peers...]
((Katie Rude/Patrick Henry Student: There are signs and people kind of seek out attention and I think you really just have to rely on their peers...))
[Patrick Henry students- wide shot]
And these students say they'll be studying each other just a little bit closer now.
Marya Jones, News 7, Roanoke.

[Gun-Bill]

Some students at Lord Botetourt High School say one way to prevent school shootings is to keep guns as far away as possible.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Botetourt Co.;]

That's why they're concerned about a bill on Governor Gilmore's desk that would allow students to keep hunting rifles in their cars in the school parking lot, with the local school board's approval.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=guns have no polace]
((AMY RHOADES/SENIOR; GUNS HAVE NO PLACE ANYWHERE NEAR SCHOOLS, EVEN IF IT IS IN THE PARKING LOT, THAT'S TOO CLOSE, SCHOOLS ARE A PLACE FOR US TO LEARN.))
[SUPER=01-Amy Rhoades/Senior; ]
[RUNS=09]
[OUT Q=hunting people]
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=@File]

According to the Governor's staff, Gilmore is NOT expected to sign the bill with the option for a local hunting exemption.
He WILL sign a separate bill that includes a 5 year mandatory sentence for anyone convicted of possessing a gun on school property, with the intent to USE it there.
(------------)

[Druckenmiller]

Papers filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court allege that there's a sealed felony indictment pending against former Virginia Tech Quarterback Jim Druckenmiller.
A hearing was held today in an attempt to UNseal the indictment and make the accusation public.
The Times-World Corporation alleges that the indictment charges Jim Druckenmiller with a felony, but does not go into the nature of the alleged offense.
(--------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Charlotte, NC/1997;]

Sources tell News-7 an indictment was handed up last week by a grand jury and immediately sealed.
Druckenmiller just finished his second year as a back-up quarterback with the San Francisco 49-ers.
He played at Virginia Tech for four years before moving on to a professional career.
(------------)
[ANCHOR=KEITH]
[SS=]

During the hearing, prosecutor Skip Schwab argued that a defendant has the right to be served with an indictment before learning about it through the media.
Circuit Judge Ray Grubbs indicated he will rule on the matter tomorrow.
[Tease#1]
[HARD MUSIC UNDER]
[ANCHOR=Keith]
[SS=NONE]

The Shad Planking .. a Virginia political tradition celebrates a golden anniversary. A live report from "shad country" is still ahead.
(---------------)
[VO-NAT]
And the Feds are looking into the Harris Teeter-Kroger swap. We'll tell you what that could mean, next.
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[ANCHOR=Robin]
[wx ad lib]
[Roll]
[Lake Level]
[MUSIC UP FULL]
[COMM#1]

[SUPER=83-Down 0.83 foot/Down 0.34 foot][Store-Swap]

Another government agency is looking over the Harris Teeter and Kroger deal.
The Federal Trade Commission has begun a review to make sure the store swap doesn't break federal antitrust laws.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Scott/Newsroom]

Scott Goldberg has been following the grocery story and has more tonight from our newsroom.
[Live= Scott Full/Newsroom]
[SUPER=@Scott1;]

Keith, this review doesn't mean the deal is in any danger.
But the store swap is so expensive and involves so many stores that the law says the Federal Trade Comission must look it over.
The FTC wants to make sure customers still have plenty of choices when it comes to shopping for groceries.
(/////SOT/////)
[SOT]
[IN Q=]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke;00]
[SUPER=01-Laura Thomas/Harris Teeter Customer;13 -- quick!]
[SUPER=01-Hugh Wellons/Flippin Densmore, et al.;31]
[RUNS=:42]
[OUT Q=if they did anything]
((
Ever since Harris Teeter said it would buy 10 stores in North Carolina ...
And sell 11 Virginia stores to Kroger...
Loyal Harris Teeter customers have complained the deal will lead to Kroger dominating markets like Roanoke.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 1:38:30]
[IN Q=they say]
((LAURA THOMAS: THEY SAY THERE'S PLENTY OF COMPETITION HERE IN THE VALLEY. BUT I'M NOT SO SURE.))
[RUNS04]
[OUT Q=SO SURE]

That's why the feds are getting involved.
They'll decide if the new Krogers mean too few choices for consumers or that grocery prices could get too high.
But Roanoke business lawyer Hugh Wellons said the FTC rarely blocks deals like this one.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT 18:53]
[IN Q=they might]
((HUGH WELLONS: THEY MIGHT TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND ASK SOME QUESTIONS. BUT THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER STRONG GROCERY STORES OPERATING IN THE VALLEY, I'D BE SURPRISED IF THEY DID ANYTHING.))
[RUNS10]
[OUT Q=DID ANYTHING]))
(------------)
[Live= Scott Full/Newsroom]

Food Lion, Winn-Dixie and Wal-mart all operate grocery stores in this area.
If the government decides that's not enough, it could go to court to block the store swap.
Harris Teeter and Kroger intend to take over each other's stores after May 11th.
[Double Boxes=Keith and Scott/Newsroom]

[US-Indicts]

A Blacksburg businessman was indicted today for allegedly defrauding various state and federal agencies.
The federal grand jury says Jack C. Parker- -of Environmental Systems and Technologies- -submitted phony time sheets- -worth tens of thousands of dollars- -work contracted by Virginia Tech and the E-P-A, among others.
The grand jury also charged a former head teller at the Cave Spring Branch of the Bank of Floyd. Karen Grey Villarini is accused of making off with 83-thousand dollars when she moved to Florida two years ago.

[S-Express]

The Express leaves for Chesapeake Friday afternoon for game three of the Northern Conference Semifinals.
(------------)
[VO-NAT]
[SUPER=03-Roanoke; :00]

Today, the team practiced at the Round House for just over an hour. Kris Cantu is all set to make his return Friday and play in his first ECHL playoff game ever. While the icebreakers are the focus, Scott Gordon is still looking a head. Around 4pm, he departed for Richmond to scout the Renegades/Toledo Storm playoff tilt tonight.
(///// SOT /////)
[SOT]
[IN Q="It would]
((SCOTT GORDON/EXPRESS HEAD COACH:IT WOULD JUST BE NICE TO GO IN THERE AND SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE. WE WATCHED CHESAPEAKE PLAY COLUMBUS ON TAPE AND YOU CAN SEE THINGS MORE CLEARLY AGAINST ANOTHER TEAM BECAUSE MAYBE THEY'RE A LITTLE MORE DELIBERATE THAN WHAT WE DO OR THEY PRESENT OTHER DIFFICULTIES FOR ANOTHER TEAM, SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET TO SEE SOME THINGS TOLEDO DOES NEGATIVELY AND POSITIVELY THAT WILL HOPEFULLY SHOW SOME HOLES IN THE RICHMOND TEAM TO.))
[SUPER=01-Scott Gordon/Express Head Coach; :00]
[RUNS=:25]
[OUT Q=...richmond team to"]
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